Happy 20th Anniversary Faith Promise! Our post this week was written by one of the original founders of Faith Promise, Deckie Conley.

MAIN POINT:

Two things have marked the people of Faith Promise for 20 years: sacrifice and faith.

ICEBREAKER:

Put yourself in this position: There is controversy in your home church. People with whom you’ve grown up are saying you need to stay here; that you’ve grown up in this church; and ask, “How can you abandon us?” At the same time people whom you’ve known only a few years but with whom you share a kindred spirit and are strong believers tell you about an exciting opportunity to be a part of a new church. They don’t pressure but say that you’re welcome to come. How do you make such a decision?

INTRODUCTION:

This week Faith Promise is celebrating her 20th anniversary. On that first Sunday in February of 1995, 324 believers met at the Garden Plaza Hotel to begin a new adventure with God. That meeting was awesome. People floated in, so excited and on a high from the Holy Spirit. We had no idea where we would meet the next week. God gave us one step at a time. For a year-and-a-half we had a pastor-of-the-week. And something rarely heard of, we grew in membership and giving, even without a regular pastor. FP’s beginning was truly ordained. Our foundation was sacrifice and faith. We gave of our resources—both time and money. Everyone, every single member, was involved. The church as a whole studied Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Church. As one of the founders this was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my Christian life. During the subsequent years, we moved four times. We knew that God had called us out, individually. There was no pressure put on anyone. The message was simply that if you feel the Holy Spirit leading, then you are welcome to join us. We also had been told before February and then the same words were told to all who came, “We don’t have pew-sitters; all who come will work.“ We stepped out in faith and continued to follow God, one step at a time.

ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH BIBLE STUDY:

Read Malachi 3:16
(1) How were the founders of Faith Promise honoring God?

Read Hebrews 11:6
(2) What 2 things must anyone who comes to God believe?

Genesis 12:1
(3) Did God tell Abram exactly where he was going? What did Abram and the Founders have in common?

Genesis 12:5
(4) Was the fact that Abram arrived safely to Canaan a big “whoop-de-do”?

Hebrews 12:2
(5) What does it mean to “fix our eyes on Jesus”?

The Message version of Hebrews 12:2 says “… he never lost sight of where he was headed…”
(6) How do these words relate to Faith Promise 20 years ago? How do we continue the journey and not lose sight of where we are headed?

(7) What did Jesus endure to be able to sit at the right hand of God?

(8) What has been and still is the focus of our church?

LEADER NOTES

(1) By following the Holy Spirit to form a new church.
(2) God exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
(3) No. Neither knew exactly where they were going.
(4) No. Abram had faith that God would do what He said He would do. Do we also have this faith?
(5) Keep away from anything that distracts us from His Purpose. Here is where the sacrifice comes in. What do we have to sacrifice in order to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus?
(6) They focused on bringing more people and telling all about Jesus.
(7) Endured the Cross. This is a good jumping off point for a presentation of the plan of salvation if you have non-believers.
(8) Following God’s will.

PLAN OF SALAVATION (Leader – go over these verses before time so that as the Holy Spirit leads, you’ll be familiar.)
1. Romans 3:23
2. Romans 6:23
3. Romans 5:8
4. Ephesians 2:8-9
5. Romans 10:9-10
6. Romans 10:13
7. Romans 10:17
8. John 3:3
9. Romans 6:3-4